Update: December 27, 2006

DEALING WITH DHMO

By Pam Eastlick for THE DEEP on line

Welcome to The Deep science and technology column where we cover topics from the deep sea to deep space and beyond.

"Greetings! Since we're all busy for Christmas we've decided to present one of our favorite columns from The Deep and Pam Eastlick. We all wish you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year."

Have you heard about that new dangerous chemical?  It’s called dihydrogen monoxide (DHMO) and it’s a colorless and odorless chemical compound.  It’s also called dihydrogen oxide, hydrogen hydroxide or simply hydric acid.  Each year, dihydrogen monoxide contributes to thousands of deaths worldwide and it’s a major contributor to millions of dollars in damage to property and the environment.  DHMO causes death if you inhale it, even in small quantities.  Prolonged exposure to solid DHMO causes severe tissue damage and in its gaseous state, it can cause severe burns.  It’s found 100% of the time in cancerous tumors and lesions. DHMO can wreak havoc on the environment too.  It’s a major component of acid rain, it contributes to soil erosion and it’s also associated with tornados, typhoons and blizzards.  Thousands of people die every year from massive influxes of DHMO.

So why haven’t you heard of this terrible chemical?  Why aren’t there campaigns everywhere to rid the Earth of this toxic scourge?  Well, there are some websites, chief among them www.dhmo.org, but the people who advocate banning DHMO have their tongues firmly planted in their cheeks because, you see, the DHMO molecule has one atom of oxygen and two atoms of hydrogen.  Its common chemical symbol is H20.  There, now do you feel better?

Now, that you’ve had your laugh, go back and read the list of horrors again and you’ll see that they’re all true.  Water can be deadly, but if you advocate its removal from the planet, you’ll remove ALL life with it, because whatever your definition of life, water is at the heart of it.  Life as we know it isn’t possible without this simple three atom molecule

Jellyfish are about 95% water which is a good nickname for them is ‘organized water’.  Humans run around 60% water.  We came from the ocean and we can the chemical makeup of that early ocean around with us in our blood.  We too are organized water. 

Humans are learning new uses for that chemical that gives us all life.  We’ve used the falling water of rivers for years to produce power, both electrical and mechanical and now we’re beginning to harness the power of ocean waves for the same purposes.

Cruise on over to the Deep Website at www.thedeepradioshow.com to learn about the benefits of water and the drawbacks of DHMO.  Water is a subject that lies deep inside all of us, so don’t miss this one! 

Enjoy!